Arvid Lindblad starts push for UK driving licence

Arvid Lindblad has begun the process of getting his UK driving licence, revealing he completed his first driving lesson just a day before appearing on Sky Sports Cricket, even though he is already racing in Formula 1 and scoring world championship points for Racing Bulls.

The 18-year-old made the admission during coverage of the First One Day International between England and India at Edgbaston, where he explained that he has finally started working toward a full road licence after already passing his theory test. For a driver established enough to be competing on the F1 grid, the contrast is obvious: Lindblad can race at the highest level of single-seater motorsport, but he still cannot legally drive himself on public roads in the United Kingdom.

In the UK, motorists can drive from the age of 17 only after passing both the theory and practical tests. Lindblad, who is from Surrey, turned 17 in August 2024 and is due to turn 19 next month, meaning he has been eligible to complete the process for some time even if the demands of an F1 season have clearly delayed it.

Lindblad acknowledged that the situation has gone from amusing to awkward. Arvid Lindblad, the Racing Bulls driver, told Sky Sports Cricket at Edgbaston: "It is a bit sad that I haven't got my licence." He said it "was funny for a bit, and now it is just getting a bit silly, so I am working on it," before adding: "I had my first driving lesson yesterday, so yeah, I need to get it done."

That is what makes the story stand out beyond the novelty value. Lindblad is not a junior still waiting for his first breakthrough. He has already taken 20 points from the first 10 races of his Formula 1 career and sits 11th in the world championship, a return that underlines how quickly he has adapted on track even while a basic off-track milestone remains unfinished.

The unusual gap between his professional progress and his road-driving status leaves Lindblad in the rare position of being proven at F1 level while still having to complete the same final step required of any new UK motorist before he can drive independently at home.